2023

 

This past year sure was full of things to remember! Some great... some not so great.

First of all after 18 years my Mona has broken free of her managerial position at work and has moved up in the world. My beautiful wife had worked so hard in her old role it was finally time to spread her wings and take on new exciting challenges in her new role at work. That is why I have represented Mona as a beautiful butterfly. She has come out of her old work cocoon and is showing the world her colors. I’m so proud of her!

The main focal point and subject matter (if you hadn’t already figured it out) is Disneyland. This is the third time we’ve taken the kids there and five years since we were last there. Both times have been at Christmas. It’s an awesome time to go if you have never been.

I decided to replicate the sleeping beauty castle in all its glory, complete with drawbridge. I even added a little snow covering for the Winter theme.

Under the castle, amongst the icicles is “The Beast” from Beauty and The Beast. This year Oliver has landed himself one of the leading roles as “The Beast” in The Theatre In The Country’s production in downtown Langley. It’s a bigger role for him but I know he’ll take this challenge head on and make it his own.

This year was the year of Oliver's first concert! Mona and I took Oliver to the Ed Sheeran concert at B.C. Place on his Mathematics tour. If you look closely on the icicle the Beast is holding you'll see the logo for that tour and the initials E.S.

To the right of the castle is my fauxhawk sporting teenager, Charlie, grinning from ear to ear due to the fact he had his braces removed after two years. Break out the popcorn and chewing gum!

This past year was a crappy one for old Danny Boy. To start things off in January, while sculpting at work for the movies, I 90% tore my bicep tendon on my right arm. It was a super lengthy process from injury to diagnosis to surgery to recovery, about 9 months. During that time I had been diagnosed with high eye pressure which could eventually lead to Glaucoma so I had to start the lifelong task of eye drops. I also had to deal with Plantar fasciitis (another souvenir from the film industry). All of those things seemed like a cakewalk when I think about it now because I had also contracted a virus call Costochondritis. It was originally thought to be internal shingles but nope! Not His guy! I’m going for the fairly rare disease. Costochondritis affects the cartilage in your rib cage and inflames it. So for two months while recovering from everything else it felt like my ribs were being stretched and ripped apart. It was more pain than I've ever experienced. And if that wasn’t enough I caught covid for the second time. So suffice it to say this year was the year Dan started falling apart.

That is why there is a crate with the label FRAGILE on it. Inside is the fun game for all ages where you get to put dad back together.

And I can’t believe I’m saying this but the Writers and Actors Strike, that shut down the film industry for everyone at IATSE and other affiliated businesses here in Vancouver, couldn’t have happened at a better time because I needed all that time to recover. I’m all healed from my potpourri of ailments and ready to go back in the New Year!